Portable wagon-sign



.(No Model.)

J. W. COLE. PORTABLBWAGON SIGN. A No. 549,630. 1 `v VPartenaed Nov. 12,1895.

:If j? f UNITED ,STAES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES WENDELL COLE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

PORTABLE wAGoN-slGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of 4Letters Patent No. 549,630, datedNovember 12, .1895.

Application filed March Z7, 1895.

To all ,whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, J AMES WENDELL COLE, of Columbus, Franklincounty,Ohio, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in PortableWagon-Signs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had tothe accompanying draw-l ings, and tothe letters of reference marked thereon.

Heretofore ithas been customary for considerable transient advertisingto be done by means of large signs, always conspicuous and to a degreemore or less ornate, placed in wagons and drawn about the streets. Theseare particularly useful for theatrical and concert companies, especiallyin places where they give one-night shows, and something of this nature,differing according to the facilities at hand, are much used by them.The signs are generally printed, stenciled, or painted on cotton clothand stretched on an improvised frame and carried alongside the wagon orin the same, and are stayed by wires or cords to keep them upright.

My invention is simple and practicable, and enables the advance agentsto fold and ship them from place to place without fear of injury, and tospeedily and securely mount them in a wagon for immediate use.

My invention consists of a folding horse or trestle and the foldingframes carried thereby, all constructed and arranged substantially ashereinafter fully described and as illustrated in the drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the same, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectionshowing the back of one of the signs and illustrating its manner offastening to said trestle.

- In Fig. l of the drawings I show the body of a wagon and in it myinvention. This consists of a pair of rectangular sign-boards Co b foreach side of the wagon. These signboards ct and b are, preferably, ofthe same dimensions-say about seven feet by two-and are hinged togetherat c c, so that the outer surfaces, on which the advertising or displaymatter is placed, can be folded together when it is desired to preparethe sign-boards for transportation or storage, so as to protect frominjury or defacement said 'advertise- Yscalinata-13,355. (No` model.)

ment or display matter. The lower edges of the lower board b areprovided with hooks e,

A and the upper board a is provided with staples located with referenceto the position of' the hooks e, so that when said boards are foldedtogether the hooks may be made to engage the staplesso as to lock themtogether.

ing matter from becoming spoiled by rain or dust, I have secured to thebacks of each pair a covering g of waterproof canvas or other suitablefabric, which is secured on the boards when closed together, so thatwhen opened a fold of fabric, as at a', will result.

B B represent two trestles, the legs of each of which are hingedtogether at their upper ends, and each leg of which at its upper end isprovided with a hook C, projecting outward, as shown. XV hen set up in awagon the trestles are placed one near the forward and the other nearthe rear end of the same and the legs spread apart and secured.

I prefer to secure the lower ends of the legs by means of a hinged haspD, one leaf of which is secured to the leg and the other leaf of whichis passed over a staple to hold said leg in place. The only thingnecessary to be done in order to render the wagon suitable for thismethod of fastening is the driving of the staples into the iioor of thewagon-body. Any other method of fastening the legs would answer,however.

Now, in operation, I suspend the sign-boards on the hooks C, suitableeyes or staples being driven into the upper edge of the upper board forthis purpose. The lower board rests against and on brackets F, securedto each leg, as shown. In order to prevent said boards from collapsingwhen being moved, I further solidify the structure of my invention byhinging to each leg, preferably back of the lower board, the hooks g,which engage the staples in the backvof the board, about as shown. Sucha hook and staple might be provided for each board, if desired.

If desired, the trestles can be immediately connected, so asto renderthem more stable,

IOO

by a stay-rod 7c., which has hooked ends that enter staples driven intothe rear of said legs.

l. The combination with two trestles, the legs of which are hingedtogether at their npper ends, and hooks projecting from the upper endsof the saine, of two sign-boards hinged together so that their displaysurfaces may be folded together.

2. The combination with two trestles the legs of which are hingedtogether at their upper ends, hooks projecting from said upper ends, anddevices for securing the lower ends of said legs, of two sign-boardshinged together so that their display surfaces may fold together.

The combination with two trestlcs the legs of which are hinged togetherat their upper ends and hooks projecting from said upper ends, of twosign-boards hinged together so that their display surfaces may be foldedtogether, and which are suspended from said hooks and a covering ofsuitable fabric applied to the back of said sign-boards, as set forth.

4. The combination with two trestles, the legs of which are hingedtogether at their upper ends, hooks projecting from the upper ends ofeach of said legs, hasps for securing the lower ends of said legsstationary, and brackets secured thereto, of two sign-boards hingedtogether, suspended from said hooks, and provided with a cover ofsuitable fabric, as set forth.

5. The combination with two trestlcs the legs of which are hingedtogether at their upper ends and hooks projecting from said upper ends,and astay rod temporarily connecting said trestles, hasps for securin gthe lower ends of said legs stationary, and brackets sccured thereto, oftwo sign-boards hinged together and suspended from said hooks andanchored temporarily to the legs of said trestles, and provided with acover of suitable fabric, as set forth.

JAMES WENDELL COLE.

Witnesses:

T. BRODERIC HELLER, v FRANK D. THoMAsoN.

